Rural housing shortage

Campaign groups are calling for the government to address the shortage in affordable rural housing.

A joint report published by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the National Housing Federation expresses concern at the lack of government action.

Shaun Spiers, CPRE chief executive, stated: "People may be surprised by this unexpected alliance but it has been brought about by an urgent need to address the rural housing crisis. We have set out the key steps we believe could help provide the homes that are so desperately needed in rural areas.

"The Affordable Rural Housing Commission that reported in May offered the government real solutions to this worsening situation. So far we have had little response from government."

In the joint charter from CPRE and the National Housing Federation, it is reported that the average rural income is £17,400. However the average rural house price is at around £172,500. This means that the majority of people living in rural areas would need to borrow ten times the amount that they earn.

The charter requests that the government look into this as soon as possible and that more public investment is put into affordable rural housing. They predict that to meet demand an extra 7,600 new rented homes are needed in rural areas.